Synonyms of deceptive

deceptive

adjective

di-ˈsep-tiv 

1

as in misleading

tending or having power to deceive

in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misleading
• false
• deceitful
• deceiving
• incorrect
• specious
• ambiguous
• delusive
• beguiling
• fallacious
• inaccurate
• fraudulent
• delusory
• subtle
• deluding
• crooked
• cunning
• dishonest
• treacherous
• sneaky
• trick
• slick
• wily
• tricky
• puzzling
• perplexing
• artful
• duplicitous
• crafty
• shifty
• underhanded
• lying
• shady
• artificial
• wrong
• sly
• untrustworthy
• mendacious
• devious
• subtile
• confounding
• counterfeit
• distracting
• untruthful
• underhand
• insidious
• foxy
• forged
• fake
• evasive
• faithless
• bewildering
• guileful
• perfidious
• hypocritical
• bogus
• spurious
• trickish
• phony
• sham
• insincere
• ambidextrous
• knavish
• feigned
• dissembling
• circuitous
• fast
• equivocal
• sneaking
• jive
• defrauding
• backhanded
• double-dealing
• two-faced
• left-handed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straightforward
• forthright
• direct
• plain
• nondeceptive
• open
• frank
• straight
• candid
• outspoken
• aboveboard
• illuminating
• explanatory
• revealing
• truthful
• plainspoken
• revelatory
• clarifying
• openhearted
• honest
• trustworthy
• free-spoken
• foursquare
• elucidative

2

as in fraudulent

given to or marked by cheating and deception

a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fraudulent
• shady
• dishonest
• crooked
• false
• duplicitous
• fast
• rogue
• shifty
• underhanded
• underhand
• bent
• artful
• sharp
• deceiving
• guileful
• deceitful
• treacherous
• unscrupulous
• unethical
• subtle
• double-dealing
• unprincipled
• cunning
• unconscionable
• delusive
• beguiling
• slick
• wily
• slippery
• sly
• crafty
• sneaky
• insidious
• tricky
• cagey
• delusory
• devious
• furtive
• foxy
• perfidious
• deluding
• trickish
• defrauding
• sneaking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honest
• straight
• ethical
• honorable
• decent
• conscientious
• scrupulous
• just
• upright
• aboveboard
• straightforward
• forthright

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deceptive

Warren also raised concerns about X’s banking partner, Cross River Bank, pointing to prior enforcement actions over deceptive loan practices involving the bank’s fintech partners. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026

Aptive likely lost accreditation based on the BBB’s standards and Aptive’s history of legal action related to deceptive marketing practices and contract terms. — Jay Sparks, USA Today, 28 July 2026

But this is a site that’s been fined for deceptive pricing and is not beloved by those who use it, with low customer net-promoter scores. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 July 2026

At 6ft 3in (190cm) with unconventional movement mechanics, he is likened to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike for his deceptive play. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 July 2026